Switch mechanism for electrical alarm apparatus.



A. V. STRAIT.

CH MECHANISM FCR ELECTRICAL ALARM APPARATUS.

SWIT

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1909. 945,634.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Annazw. e

A. V. STRAIT.

SWITCH MECHANISM POB ELECTRICAL ALARM APPARATUS.

AIPLICATION FILED rma. 27, 1909.

945,634, I Patented Jau 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JZ ZZ- Z3 L g@ M W Gtkoznm 'UNrTED sraras PATENT omnes.

ANDREW V. STRAIT, OF SIDNEY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAMBRONK AND ONE-FOURTH TO FRANK A. WILLIAMS, OF ONEQNTA, NEW' YORK.

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICAL ALARM APPARATUS.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW V. STRAIT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sidney, in the county of Delaware and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Switch Mechanism for Electrical AlarmApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric call clock which automaticallyactuates a bell or other signal at a predetermined time and which isdesigned more especially for use in hotels, lodging houses and the likefor enabling the otlice clerk to call the guests at the appointed timefor rising, and while the invention is particularly useful in thisconnection, it is to be understood that certain of its features may beemployed in connection with electrical alarms and indicators for boilerpressure devices, thermostats and the like.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to becomparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable andefficient in use, and readily manipulated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedswitchboard for time clocks and the like including especiallv designedcontacts whereby a room number check or similar device can be applied tothe. contacts to electrically connect them so that upon the closing ofthe alarm circuit by a contact arm or supplemental hand of the clockmechanism, the signal will be sounded.

An additional object is the employment of a novel form of contact pointused in connection with the clock-actuated contact l Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed February 27, 1309.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

serial No. 480,348.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is afragmentary front elevation of the clock with the dial removed. F ig. 3is a front view of the switchboard. Fig. 1lis a perspective view of oneof the hand-engaged contacts of the clock. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic viewof the circuit connections.

Similar' reference characters are employed to designate correspondingparts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the casing of the clock which isof any approved construction or design and the casing is divided by apartition 1 into the clockworks compartment 2 and a switchboardcompartment 3, there being a glazed door t at the front of the casingfor providing access to the clock-works and switchboard. Mounted in theupper part of the compartment 9. is a clock-works B of any approvedconstruction including a train of gears 5 that turn the minute and hourhands G and 7, respectively, in timed relation7 the hands moving overthe number dial 8. Under the dial 8 is a check panel 9 provided with aplurality of hooks 10 for receiving the checks 1l that bear the numbersof the bed-rooms of the hotel, there being obviously as many checks asthere are sleeping rooms.

Supported behind the dial 8 is a plate 12 of wood or other insulating'material which is provided with a plurality of contacts 13 arranged in acircle concentrically around the arbor 14C of the clock-works so as tobe engaged by an auxiliary hand or spring` contact 15 secured to the hub16 of the hour hand 7. The contacts 13 are arranged at suitableintervals apart so that the alarm circuit can be closed every hour or atintervals of fifteen minutes or less between the hours. Each contact 13is constructed as shown in Fig. l, and the same consists of a wireformed into two or more coils or turns 17 bent around a common axis andof the same diameter, so that the points a and b will be inthe sameplane to insure the engagement of both by the spring contact 15, therebymaking the closing of the circuit doubly certain. This form of contactprovides resiliency so that a firm engagement and consequently a betterelectrical contact can be obtained between the hand and each contactterminal 13. rllhe ends 1S and 19 of the wire of which the contact 13 isconstructed are disposed parallel so as to be inserted throughopeningsZO in the plate 12, and the extremities of the members 18 and 19are turned backwardly against the back face of the plate 12 so as tosecurely hold the contacts in place without the use oi fastenings. Themember 13 of the contact 13 is somewhat longer than the member 19 forthe purpose of enabling the ci@rent-conducting wires leading to theswitchboard to be spliced to the contacts.

The switchboard mounted in the compartment 3 comprises a panel 203 etsuitable insulating material and on this panel are arranged switches S,there being as many switches as there are hand-engaging contacts 13 onthe clock. v

[is shown in Fig. 3, the switches S are arranged in horizontal rows andthe switches of the upper row are numbered 1 to 1Q inclusive tocorrespond with the hours ot the clock, and the switches ot the secondrow are numbered 15, those ot the third 30, and those of the last row45, so that b y this arrangement the alarm signal can be closed at anyhour or at intervals ot' Fifteen minutes be ltween the hours. Eachswitch S comprises a hooksshaped contact or supporting lterminal 21 thatprojects forwardly :trom the panel 20, and disposed above 'the contact21 is a contact or yielding terminal 22 constructed of a looped wire sodisposed that the parallel members thereof are equidistantfrom the hookcontact 21. rhe side members ol2 each contact Q2 are extendedrearwardly7 through openings 23 in the switch-board panel and the rearextremities are bent vflat against the rear side of the panel and thebent-up extremities 2e otl each looped contact Q2 are overlapped withthe adjacent extremities of the adjacent looped contacts, so that allthe contacts 22 of the switchboard cooperate to form a continuouscurrent-conclucting path. Passing under the rear extremities Q4- of thecontacts 22 is a common wire 25 which is employed as an additional meansfor securing` electrical connection. through the contacts, and thiswire, well as the extremities 241, are secured tixedly in place byastenings 26a, as shown in Fig. The hook-shaped contacts 21 areconnected respectively by wires 2G with the corresponding contacts 13with which the hand 15 engages. The hand 15 is connected by a wire 2Twith a signal such as a bell Q8, which is, in turn, connected by a wire29 with a suitable source of curA rent, as for instance, the battery C,4l., the cells of which are mounted on the partition 1 behind the panel9, the battery being itself connected by aconductor 30 with the commonwire 25, as shown in Fig. 5. The room number checks or tags 11 are eachprol vided with an opening 31 so as to be received on any contact 21,and the upper portion of the tag or check has a curved edge disposedconcentrically with respect to the opening 3l so as to engage both sidemembers of the contact 22 ot' the switch on which the tag or check isplaced, the distance between the opening 31 and the concentric edge oi'the tag being greater than the normal distance between the contacts Q1and Q2 to the switches, so that when a applied to a switch, it isnecessary to 'force the contacts apart to accommodate the tag andthereby insure lirm engagement between the contacts and tag torproviding good electrical connection between them. 'l' he lirontextremity ot each contact Q2 is bent upwardly into a lip 22a forfacilitating the placing` oli the tag or check in the switch.

ln practic-e, let it be assumed that the guesty of the hotel who isoccupying room QG desires to be called the next morning at six oclock.The hotel clerk is informed ot this tact and he takes the check for roomQG from the check board 9 ot the clock and applies it to the switchimmediately under the number G of the switchboard. Ey this means, thecontinuity t the electric circuit; is completed at the switchboard sothat when six oclock arrives, the hand 15 o'lf the cloclrworks willengage the contact point opposite the on the clock dial, therebycoinpleting the circuit and energiz/.ing the bell so that the hotelclerk will be informed that the hour has arrived `for calling the guestin room 26. The switches are so constructed that several checks can bcplaced in any one switch as when several guests desire to be called atthe same time.

F rom the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanyingl drawings, the advantages oit the construction and oit themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the inrention appertains, and while have described theprinciple oi operation ot the invention, together with the apparatuswhich l now consider to he the best embodiment thereof, l desire to hareit understomi that` the apparatus shown is merely illustratire and thatsuch changes may he made when desired as are within the scope olE theclaims aipended hereto.

' Haring thus described the invention, what 1 claim new and desire tosecin'e by @lietters Patent, is

1. In apparatus ot the class described, the combination with an uprightbase, of an outstanding` electrical supporting' terminal projecting fromthe base, a` yielding` outstanding contact terminal also projecting fromthe base, said yielding terminal heilig disposed above and in spacedrelation to the supporting terminal, and a metallic circuitclosing taghaving an opening in its upper portion that receives the supportingterminal, the upper margin of the tag, between the opening and the upperedge, being wider than the space between the terminals and constitutingan electrical connection between the same, the main body of the tagdepending below the supporting terminal.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a base, ofa plurality of terminals projecting from the base, a plurality of loopedterminals, each cooperating with one of the projecting terminals andhaving side arms that pass through the base, said side arms having theirrear ends outturned and connected to the side arms or" the adjacentlooped terminals, and circuit-closing devices arranged to connect thecoperating terminals.

3. In apparatus oi the class described, the combination with aprojecting terminal, of a looped terminal disposed adjacentto and spacedfrom the said projecting terminal, said looped terminal having sidemembers located on opposite sides of the same, and a circuit-closingdevice adapted to be placed upon the projecting` terminal and inengagement with the side members of the looped terminal, the said deviceconstituting a conductor between the terminals.

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with asupporting terminal hook, of a spring looped terminal disposed adjacentto the hook but spaced therefrom, said spring terminal having side armslocated adjacent to the hook and furthermore having its free endoutturned to form a guide lip, and a metallic circuit-closing tag havinga portion arranged to be placed upon the hook, said portion bridging thespace between the hoolr and side arms and constituting an electricalconnection between the same.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of asupporting member ot insulating material, a Contact mounted thereon andprojecting from the plate, a second contact having spaced membersarranged equidistant from the first contact, and a circuit connectedwith the contacts, with a metallic check having an opening for receivingthe first contact andL provided with a portion arranged tosimultaneously engage both members of the second contact for completingthe circuit through the contacts and check.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of asupporting base having apertures, a plurality of switches mounted on thesupporting base, and circuits connected with the switches, each switchincluding spaced contacts, and a device engaged between and electricallyconnected with the contacts, one of the contacts being composed of alooped wire having its members eX- tending through the apertures andbent bach against the supporting plate, the proximate bent-bachextremities of adjacent contacts being arranged in engagement forproviding a current-conducting path through all the contacts.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of asupporting base having apertures, a plurality of switches mounted on thesupporting base, and circuits connected with the switches, each switchincluding spaced contacts, and a device engaged between and electricallyconnected with the contacts, one of the contacts being composed or" alooped wire having its members extending through the apertures and bentback against the supporting plate, the proximate bent-back extremitiesot adjacent contacts being arranged in engagement for providing acurrent-conducting path through all the contacts, and a common conductorconnected with all the said contacts to form a supplemental path for thecurrent through the switches.

S. In an apparatus ot' the class described, the combination ot asupporting base having apertures, single wire contacts passing throughcertain of the apertures, doubled wire contacts passing through theremaining apertures and having their extremities bent baclrwardlyagainst the supporting base and contacting with each other whereby allthe doubled contacts form a single current-conducting path, devicesacapted to be supported on the single wire contacts and engagethedoubled wire contacts for forming a bridging conductor between them, agroup of contacts, wires extending from the contacts ot' the said groupto each of the single wire contacts on the said supporting base, amember movable into engagement with the said group ot contacts,a singlewire connecting the said member with all of the doubled wire contactsand including a source of current.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination ot asupporting base having rows ot apertures, single wire contacts passingthrough the apertures of one row, doubled wire contacts passing throughthe apertures otl the other row and having their extremities bentbackwardly against the supporting base to engage each wire with theadjacent wires to form a single conductor for current, a conductorelectrically connected with the bent-back extremities, fastenings 'forsecuring the extremities and conductor in engagement with each other andfastened to the supporting base, a plurality of contact points, a wireleading from each pointto one of the single wire contacts, a

member movable over the Contact points to In testimony that I claim theforegoing ns engage therewith, a Wire connected with the my own, havehereto a'xed my Signature member and smd conductor and mcludmg a 1n thepresence of two Wltnesses.

source of Current, and Contact bridging de- ANDRE V. STRAIT. Vicesadapted to be inserted between the .itnesses:

single and doubled Wire contacts for closing ANDREW SI-IELTON,

the circuits. JEXETTE B. SlMoNs.

